Easy to meter 38SPL powder

[fourdollarbill]

I was trying different powders in 38spl and found that Clays and Unique are hard to meter in small charges because the flakes are so big. I used Bullseye forever and it meters well I just want to try something new and cleaner burning. The only thing I load 38spl for is a snub short barell so I have to be carefull with the powder. It must be a pretty quick burn. Do you have any suggestions for a 158gr LSWC in a short barrel?

 

[jbrown13]

Might want to try AA #2

You might want to give Accurate #2 a try. A fast ball powder that meters like water and burns clean.

 

[Jayhawker]

Might want to give Win 231 or HP 38 a try.

 

[joneb]

For .38spl I use Bullseye, W-231 and AA#5.

 

[fourdollarbill]

Is AA2 it good for lite loads?

 

[1SOW]

Win 231: will meter well, is fast burn, and should shoot hotter loads fairly clean. In 9mm light loads (1050-1060fpm) was sooty. Above 1100fpm was clean.

I use Vihtavuori n320 for 124gr 9mm: burn rate comparable to 231, expensive, meters well, shoots exceptionally clean.

 

[MMCSRET]

I load 38 special with a cast 158 gr. over 4.2 gr. AA#2. been doing it that way for almost 20 years. The early AA handbooks are where I got the start and end for this load. I don't know what the newer data says. This works for me in revolvers of 2" all the way to 6.5".
My suggestion is to verify and try AA#2.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have shot .38 Special from wadcutters to +P with Win 231 for about 30 years now and see no reason to change.

AA #2 works well in .45 but I have not tried it in .38, see above.

The Vihtavuoru powders - N310 or N320 for .38, probably - are extruded but small granule size and they meter well.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Unique is a neat powder, but one thing it is not is clean.

I've used AA #5, never tried #2.

 

[lexjj]

+1 for Winchester 231/HP-38.

 

[Rugg_Ed]

The WW shot shell powders meter well and most will power up the 38 spec. along with HP-38 and good old WW231

 

[armoredman]

AA#2, use it a lot for 38 Special, regular and light loads, jacketed and cast, works great.

 

[idahoglock36]

Try some WST. It is the cleanest I have used. I'm using 3.7 under a Missouri Bullet 158 LSWC and just can't get enough. I have found WST to be cleaner than the VV powder and that is hard to believe.

WST meters very well...I like Unique and use quite a bit but there in no comparison to WST in metering. It also has a beige/yellow color which really stands out when you looking at the charge before you put the bullet on. Try a pound of WST if you don't like it send it to me. For a short barrel pistol WST is the way to go.

 

[delta5]

I would give Hodgdon Titegroup a try. I have had pretty good luck with it.

 

[ChristopherG]

One more vote for W231. At lower charges it is not all that clean burning, but one reason it is an accuracy champion is because of its consistent metering.

 

[squarles67]

I use HP-38 (same as Win 231)